'Consumer Reports' Smacks Verizon iPhone Over Antenna Issues

[ThomasJL]

Somebody dares point the obvious that apple (as usual) didnt do anything to remedy a problem and every fanboy starts whining .

They tested it (as did others) its reality get over it that your "magical" iphone isnt perfect. Its still one of the best phones out there so get over it.

Correct. I just bought a Verizon iPhone 4, and I resent the fact that I have to put a bumper on it. As for the hole for the headphone jack, the bumper only works with the small housing on Apple's white stock headphones, so I can't plug it into my stereo system's auxiliary jack nor use other headphones with the bumper on.

Anyway, I thank Consumer Reports for pubilshing this. Hopefully, it will encourage Apple to cut down on their form-over-function practice.

 

[mrochester]

“The phone performs superbly in most other respects, and using the iPhone 4 with a case can alleviate the problem,” Consumer Reports wrote in a blog post. But it couldn’t ignore the death grip problem, which is caused by a gap in the casing and is not found on any other smart phone the magazine tested:

“As with our tests of the AT&T iPhone 4, putting a finger across one particular gap—the one on the lower left side—caused performance to decline. Bridging this gap is easy to do inadvertently, especially when the phone is in your palm, which might readily and con*tinuously cover the gap during a call,” the publication says.

Is the CR quote.

 

[GrayUK]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8C148 Safari/6533.18.5)

Does anybody listen to places like this anymore? We have similar places in the UK who try to make out if they don't say it's a good product then don't buy.

These places like CR had there day maybe in 1980 when people were unsure of the best washing machine but there really is no need for them nowadays.

 

[chatin]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8C148 Safari/6533.18.5)

If the dropped call numbers are the same that would be like indighting iOS for war crimes. I would need to dump my iPhone 4 on principle.

 

[iPhoneCollector]

the death hug is much more of a concern

 

[iPhoneCollector]

Can someone please explain me what this means. i see it a lot and it seems that some device adds it automatically to the message.

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8C148 Safari/6533.18.5)

 

[doctor-don]

Correct. I just bought a Verizon iPhone 4, and I resent the fact that I have to put a bumper on it. As for the hole for the headphone jack, the bumper only works with the small housing on Apple's white stock headphones, so I can't plug it into my stereo system's auxiliary jack nor use other headphones with the bumper on.

Anyway, I thank Consumer Reports for pubilshing this. Hopefully, it will encourage Apple to cut down on their form-over-function practice.

You can use a drill and make a hole for access to the headphone jack. It's not that difficult.

Why would you buy a product without doing the research on it from the start?

Somebody dares point the obvious that apple (as usual) didnt do anything to remedy a problem and every fanboy starts whining .

They tested it (as did others) its reality get over it that your "magical" iphone isnt perfect. Its still one of the best phones out there so get over it.

My Android phone also suffers from lower signal strength when I grip it in my hand. That part is common to all cellphones that do not have a separate antenna. The gap in the iP4 is an entirely different matter, and the fact that it still exists on Verizon is NO surprise to anyone who has kept up with the situation. It would not be a problem unless you bridge the gap. Get over it. It will be remedied in the next version.

 

[Bubba Satori]

Don't buy any of that Dell junk.

 

[125037]

Instead of writing a (potentially) essay-long response to this article, I'll summarize.

Ugh.

 

[ozred]

Instead of writing a (potentially) essay-long response to this article, I'll summarize.

Ugh.

It's just an Apple forum.

Lowering ones expectations from the stratosphere where Apple places them, to real world levels puts it all into proper perspective.

It's like a David Copperfield show in Vegas.

Smoke, Mirrors & damn little reality.

 

[125037]

It's just an Apple forum.

Lowering ones expectations from the stratosphere where Apple places them, to real world levels puts it all into proper perspective.

It's like a David Copperfield show in Vegas.

Smoke, Mirrors & damn little reality.

They're just seeking attention. The iPhone is a damn good phone, fanboy or not you have to admit it. Yeah, it has some issues but they make it seem like it's just an overall poor choice for a phone. Ignorance.

 

[infidel69]

They're just seeking attention. The iPhone is a damn good phone, fanboy or not you have to admit it. Yeah, it has some issues but they make it seem like it's just an overall poor choice for a phone. Ignorance.

Nobody said it wasn't a good phone. CR is the first to say it's a great phone that has one glaring issue that has gone unresolved. Why can't anybody understand that. Everybody wants to hate on CR for being honest and doing their job. That's ignorance. It amazes me how personal some of you are taking it. Are you this defensive about all of your belongings?

 

[infidel69]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8C148 Safari/6533.18.5)

Does anybody listen to places like this anymore? We have similar places in the UK who try to make out if they don't say it's a good product then don't buy.

These places like CR had there day maybe in 1980 when people were unsure of the best washing machine but there really is no need for them nowadays.

Do you guys even step out of the house? The world is a very different place than the imaginary one in your perfect Apple world. Anything you don't like is automatically irrelevent. Many people feel this way about Apple. The iphone is so 2009

 

[Eldiablojoe]

I used to think of CR as indispensible, but this is just the latest in a handful of recommendations that run counter to my firsthand experience. Like Phillips Plasma they rated high (but in actuality SUCKED!).

The grain of salt I take when I read CR reviews has just gotten much larger.

 

[LarryC]

Ready for some Raige?

These old morons have nothing better to do with their lives (kinda like me hanging out in the forums). My phone runs PERFECT! I haven't gone below 4 bars yet. Can't recommend the phone? Idiots. The most powerful phone on the planet and you can't "recommend" it because when you hold it like an idiot it loses signal.

The iPhone is the best purchase I have ever made. THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE PHONE! I wanna smack this old goon!

You need some very serious psychiatric help. Go to your nearest psychiatric crisis intervention unit and sit down with one of their people and talk with them. They will get you the help that you need. Go right now.

 

[125037]

Nobody said it wasn't a good phone. CR is the first to say it's a great phone that has one glaring issue that has gone unresolved. Why can't anybody understand that. Everybody wants to hate on CR for being honest and doing their job. That's ignorance. It amazes me how personal some of you are taking it. Are you this defensive about all of your belongings?

It's not even about the whole "don't talk about my beloved Apple products" factor. When he said "we're not adding it to our list of recommended smart phones" it just pissed me off. They're making a huge deal out of 1) something that really, really isn't that big of a deal, and 2) it was a known issue with AT&T, Apple never spoke of a revision to enhance the death grip so what were they expecting?

Ready for some Raige?

My phone runs PERFECT! I haven't gone below 4 bars yet. Can't recommend the phone? Idiots. The most powerful phone on the planet and you can't "recommend" it because when you hold it like an idiot it loses signal.

+10

You need some very serious psychiatric help. Go to your nearest psychiatric crisis intervention unit and sit down with one of their people and talk with them. They will get you the help that you need. Go right now.

He might have been was a little over-dramatic but that point is more than half-way valid. People are making this a huge deal, when (as I stated above) REALLY isn't.

-1 for comedy fail.

There absolutely, positively is an issue with the iPhone4's antenna. I have one...I know. My 3G experienced no such problems.

I'm getting a bumper to see if that rectifies it (or at least helps), but it's very annoying.

It's annoying because you see the bar drop once or twice when in reality it probably rarely affects you. There IS a problem with the antenna. It ISN'T a big deal.

 

[ccf]

There absolutely, positively is an issue with the iPhone4's antenna. I have one...I know. My 3G experienced no such problems.

I'm getting a bumper to see if that rectifies it (or at least helps), but it's very annoying. I don't make many calls or it would be a deal-breaker for me.

I love Apple products...love the iPhone, but bottom line, I'm getting a 5 as soon as they come out & selling my 4 (as long as the antenna issue is fixed).

 

[LarryC]

It's not even about the whole "don't talk about my beloved Apple products" factor. When he said "we're not adding it to our list of recommended smart phones" it just pissed me off. They're making a huge deal out of 1) something that really, really isn't that big of a deal, and 2) it was a known issue with AT&T, Apple never spoke of a revision to enhance the death grip so what were they expecting?




+10

I watched that video and all the guy did was place one finger on that one spot in a very normal way. If that is what you guys are calling a death grip then Apple needs to redesign the antenna. Did you notice the part where he says that they did not have the same thing happen when they did the exact same thing with other smart phones? Apple needs to fix it. Steve Jobs needs to suck it up, admit that he was wrong and fix it! And yes, I did use the word "wrong" in the same sentence with Steve Jobs. He is wrong. There is a problem with the design of an Apple product. Get over it. You guys are like those fundamentalist Islamic people who are ready to murder someone at the drop of a hat because someone disagrees with your prophet. Just look at the person I quoted earlier on this same page or the one before it. It is insane behavior.

 

[LarryC]

It's not even about the whole "don't talk about my beloved Apple products" factor. When he said "we're not adding it to our list of recommended smart phones" it just pissed me off. They're making a huge deal out of 1) something that really, really isn't that big of a deal, and 2) it was a known issue with AT&T, Apple never spoke of a revision to enhance the death grip so what were they expecting?


And why is it that you give this person that you do not know, power to control your emotions. That isn't healthy. It is just a phone. In the grand scheme of things this is not even important. It is just a phone. Maybe you and that other guy that I quoted earlier could car pool to the mental health clinic.

+10




He might have been was a little over-dramatic but that point is more than half-way valid. People are making this a huge deal, when (as I stated above) REALLY isn't.

-1 for comedy fail.

You thought that I was making a joke. No, I was not.



It's annoying because you see the bar drop once or twice when in reality it probably rarely affects you. There IS a problem with the antenna. It ISN'T a big deal.

You can read my replies to your comments above.

 

[125037]

You can read my replies to your comments above.

Concurrently you can read my response above where I said that there is indeed a problem, yes the numbers did go down, but it rarely will affect you in a real world situation. You see the bars drop down to 2 or 3 when you grip it, what you're not (smart enough to?) realize(ing) is that your phone is still working just fine.

You thought that I was making a joke. No, I was not.

-2 for the cover up.

 

[littyboy]

Only an idiot would use this extremely expensive smart phone without a case. It is a non issue.

A lot of people use this phone without a case... wtf?

Maybe you're just cheap?

(not referring to everyone who has a case, just this guy who apparently thinks a case is a must...)

Also most cases, even if you drop it you still damage the phone.

 

[k995]

My Android phone also suffers from lower signal strength when I grip it in my hand. That part is common to all cellphones that do not have a separate antenna. The gap in the iP4 is an entirely different matter, and the fact that it still exists on Verizon is NO surprise to anyone who has kept up with the situation. It would not be a problem unless you bridge the gap. Get over it.

I have no problem with it, but apperently saying its still there is a problem too many, including you.

It will be remedied in the next version.

Perhaps.

 

[ftaok]

I've actually seen a Samsung Galaxy S (AT&T) lose 2 bars (from 5 to 3) when being gripped in a meaty hand. And this was with a rubber sleeve on it.

I'm thinking this happens to all phones.

 

[kdarling]

I've actually seen a Samsung Galaxy S (AT&T) lose 2 bars (from 5 to 3) when being gripped in a meaty hand. And this was with a rubber sleeve on it.

Sure, but no one is talking about normal and common signal attenuation caused by a hand or head.

The iPhone 4 design is unique in having a single well defined location that if touched with a single finger can, in certain situations, cause the signal to drop to uselessness.

 

[jackpollard]

Consumer who?? Yawn, please go back to telling us how great Toyota is....